Chapter 159
+15 BONUS
Chapter 160
After the healer left, I stepped closer to Alice, determined to be close if she should need me, even as she drifted to sleep.
As Alice dozed, I quickly and lightly explained the situation to Amber. She needed to be alert in case
Olivia was still lurking nearby.
I still couldn’t believe she would go this far. Chase wasn’t the most reliable source, after all. But, at the same time, I knew it was true.
There had always been something a little bit off about Olivia, a bit edgy. She never liked Amber, and then she’d been interested in Alice’s necklace since she saw it. The fact that she had seemed to disappear was another point against her.
Amber nodded as I spoke, unquestioning. She believed this too then.
When I was finished explaining, Amber looked absolutely exhausted. “Why don’t you take a break,” I told her. “Go get some coffee or a nap. I will stay here and watch Alice p>
“ I’m afraid to leave her p>
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “You need your strength. Take a break p>
Amber’s POV
I wasn’t keen on leaving Alice behind but Julian had proved himself to be firmly on our side by so fiercely defending us from Chase.
I was feeling a little strung out, the adrenaline cooling now. I didn’t want to sleep in case I was needed, but some coffee would help.
“Watch her, please,” I said. “I am just going to go get some coffee and be right back p>
“I won’t take my eyes off of her,” Julian promised.
With that assurance, I gave Alice one last sad look before walking out of the room. The moment I closed the door behind me, the tears started.
It was so difficult to see my little girl like this. After finding that necklace, I had let myself believe the worst was behind me, but now? It was just as bad as before.
Every time she shifted, she was tortured. Gods, I would give anything to keep my little girl from experiencing so much pain.
“ Amber? ” Anna asked. I turned away as she came up the hallway, not wanting her to see my tears, especially when I realized she wasn’t alone. Carla was with het.
1/2
Chapter 160
+15 BONUS
“ I just need a minute,” I told them both. “Please. Then I’ll be able to talk p>
“ You don’t have to talk, Healer Amber,” Carla said. “We just want to give you something p>
“ I don’t need anything,” I started.
“Amber,” Anna said patiently. “Look. ”
At Anna’s insistence, I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.
There, in front of me in the hallway, Anna and Carla were standing side by side, with Anna holding out a chain necklace, complete with a pendant.
It was Alice’s.
“ How can this be?” I asked, moving closer. I lifted my hand and touched the delicate chain.
“When Carla and I went to collect your luggage from the concourse,” Anna said, “We tried to find all the pieces to the necklace too p>
“We got most of them,” Carla said. “Some were beyond repair, but I fixed as much as I could p>
“Carla makes jewelry,” Anna said. “Remember when we saw her at the craft fair? ”
“I did my best to repair this…” Carla gave me a sad sort of smile. “It’s not exactly like it was, but…” She hung her head a little. “I’m not a mystic. I wish I could repair the magic p>
Touching the cool medal, I can feel that most of the magic had gone from the necklace, but some still remained. Maybe it would be enough. At the very least, it was better than nothing.
“Thank you,” I told them both, meaning it with all of my heart.
Carla smiled a little wider.
“Alice deserves better than what happened today,” Anna said.
I agreed. She deserved a cure. It was past time we found her one.